Japanese duo arrested for webcasts

Two busted for copyright violations of TV shows

TOKYO — The prexy and employee of a company that webcasts TV shows to Japanese expats abroad have been taken into custody by Tokyo police for alleged copyright violations.

The prexy of J Network Service International, Kazuma Moriya, is accused of loading two February episodes of the Fuji TV show “Gokigenyo” onto company servers and offering them to subscribers without first getting permission from Fuji, a violation of Japan’s Copyright Law.

J Network Service International beams shows from 21 Japanese channels to 5,000 subscribers in 50 countries via 88 servers in Chiba and Osaka prefectures. Police estimate that revenues from the service have totaled $2.84 million since its launch in December 2006.

Fuji first complained about the service to the Tokyo metro police in June 2008. The bust, say the police, is the first of its kind in Japan.